DEF LEPPARD vocalist Joe Elliott is featured in a new interview conducted for MTV Hive. An excerpt is available below:

Q: You don’t think of yourself as heavy metal?

Elliott: "I don’t. Talk to Glenn Tipton from JUDAS PRIEST or Scott Ian from ANTHRAX and ask them if Def Leppard is a heavy metal band, they’ll laugh at you. And rightfully so. They’ll say no, they’re a good rock band, but they’re not heavy metal."

Q: So what are you?

Elliott: "We’re rock. It’s a vast difference. AC/DC are metal, VAN HALEN aren’t metal. And neither are they a hair band, but they’ve got hair. If it’s the difference between being a hair band and a bald band, yes, we’re a hair band. But musically, we’re a British rock band, end of story."

Q: How does Def Leppard survive for three decades with more or less the same lineup and GUNS N’ ROSES and Van Halen can’t be civil with each other? What’s the secret to making a relationship with your bandmates last?

Elliott: "It’s about all being on the same page and respecting each other. We all came from Sheffield, England, which is a very industrial working class town. It’s steel and coal, basically. The only thing that came from Sheffield before us, other than maybe some cutlery that you have at home, was Joe Cocker and the Human League. When you get the opportunity to do what we do for a living, you’re always grateful. As tough as it can sometimes be to record and tour with a band, it’s better than working down in the coal mine."

Q: What’s the formula for a memorable rock n’ roll anthem? Walk us through it.

Elliott: "Most people would say you have to avoid cliches at all cost. But I would say absolutely not. Embrace cliches like they’re your dying breathe. Look at a song like 'We Are The Champions' by QUEEN. It’s one big meaty cliche. 'Once Bitten, Twice Shy' is one of the greatest songs ever written and it’s a cliche, but it’s a cool cliche. Don’t avoid cliches, embrace the bloody things."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

As previously reported, Def Leppard performed live on the morning television show Fox & Friends (Fox News Channel) Summer Concert Series, this morning - Friday, June 15th. Video of the band performing 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' and 'All About Believin' can be seen below:

Def Leppard performed the following setlist:

'Hysteria'

'All About Believin'

'Animal'

'Rock Of Ages'

'Pour Some Sugar On Me'

Encore:

'Foolin'

Check out more photos below:

KTLA-TV has released a video interview with Phil Collen, in which he talks about Def Leppard's influence on the Rock Of Ages movie, the upcoming tour with POISON and LITA FORD, and his diet and fitness regime. Watch the piece below: